Bar Fly SLi Mount Review

Bar Fly SLi Mount Review

Josh Ross

A Review of the Bar Fly SLi Mount.

Recently, when I talked about the Magellan Cyclo 505, one of the things that I mentioned was that the out front mount in the box wasn’t the best option. It’s not something I can say Garmin has nailed either, so it’s not something I really hold against them, but it has been an area where third party companies have found a niche. If you are talking about mounts for Garmin, there is a seemingly never ending parade of options. If you are only talking quantity of accessories, then this is clearly an area that Garmin has Magellan beat. Thankfully though, it’s not important how many options exist as long as there is a great one. Bar Fly has stepped forward in this space as a great option.

The Bar Fly SLi mount gives you extra options for what you have on your bar mount

Bar Fly is a company that primarily makes mounts; mounts for computers, mounts for action cameras, mounts for electronic junction boxes, and a really cool mount that does it all called the SLi mount. They aren’t the only company out there that makes these kinds of products, but they are the only one I know of that makes them compatible with a wide range of computers, including the Magellan units.

In addition to working with a variety of computers, the SLi mount also works with a variety of accessories. It’s actually a really clever modular system that can be used to carry your computer plus a camera or light and electronic junction box. Not only does it carry a variety of different accessories, but that modular design also means you aren’t going to have to repurchase your SLi mount.

The Bar Fly SLi head unit can be changed allowing you to fit a number of different accessories

I’ve got a Magellan now, but if I later switch to Garmin, or one of a handful of other companies they support, I’ll need to just purchase a new head unit rather than an entirely new mount. That same flexibility exists in the accessory mount area as well. The unit I have currently holds only the computer, but if I later decide to start riding with a GoPro, or a light, or switch to an electronic drivetrain, all of those accessories can be purchased separately and attached to my original mount. I really appreciate that kind of forward thinking from a manufacturer. Your preferred mounting option will never be a reason you can’t switch cycling computers.

Fitting was simple, the mount goes on without having to risk your paintjob

Using the SLi mount is a similarly well thought out experience. It’s incredibly stiff, holds your computer exactly where it makes the most sense, they’ve even aero tested it. One thing I really appreciate about it compared to the Magellan mount is that the clamp opens all the way. This means you don’t have to squeeze it over your nice carbon bars and potentially scratch them. Just open up the mount, then close it over the bars – another example of the attention to detail that you can find in every aspect of the SLi mount.

The Bar Fly SLi holds the Magellan firmly in place, no risk of popping out mid-ride

The bottom line is that some people may really like the mount that comes with their computer, but if you find it lacking, or you want to mount additional accessories, then the Bar Fly SLi is an outstanding option. In fact, if you’ve got a Magellan computer, it’s probably your only third party option. But that’s not a bad thing.